News

SA’s first commercial agave crop planted at Willunga

Plant-based technology company Vircura, working in conjunction with The Madgett’s Block, has planted the first commercial agave crop in South Australia, growing the hardy plants to primarily produce agave spirit. The site will grow 1200 agave tequilana plants, also known as blue agave which is the key ingredientin tequila, and only grown and distilled in certain areas of Mexico. In Australia, it can be used to make agave spirit. Vircura General Manager Adam Djekic said the plants would take between three and six years to grow, and once at maturity, they would partner with The Madgett’s Block owners Oli and Tara Madgett to find a buyer interested in distilling. “Agave crops are completely new to South Australia and we see it as an emerging commercial industry,” Mr Djekic said. “Tequila is one of the fastest growing spirits popularity-wise internationally, and it is an industry which could grow significantly in Australia over the coming years.” Mr Djekic said wine grape growers had faced some challenging times, particularly with grape gluts and with changing international markets. “Agave could provide a new direction for many grape growers who want to stay in agriculture but are questioning their future viability or wanting to diversify.” Vircura Chief Scientific Officer Professor Rachel Burton, a specialist in plant molecular biology and functional genomics, has been working on emerging plant species including agave, which can also be used to produce bioethanol. “Agave is a wonder plant that has many uses and is hardy and drought resistant, making it perfect for our climate. The tequilana plants should thrive in the soils of the McLaren Vale basin,” Dr Burton said. “There are many uses for the agave plant, including processing for bioethanol, hydrogen production or distillation for spirits. “By growing crops in South Australia and showing the agricultural community that […]

CSIRO serves up innovation initiative for food industry SMEs

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has opened its Innovate to Grow program to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) hoping to advance their innovative ideas in food innovation and technology. Led by experienced researchers, the program will help participants examine technical and business challenges, explore research and development (R&D) opportunities, and develop actionable business and funding plans for their R&D idea. CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Deputy Director Impact, Dr Michelle Colgrave, said SMEs are key to Australia continuing to grow its reputation as a global leader in food technology. “We can combine innovations in fermentation with ‘customer driven’ preferences to deliver reduced sugar beverages, or no and low alcohol wines,” Dr Colgrave said. “To match our growing population, changing climates and evolving consumer preferences, there’s an increasing need to diversify and develop new food and beverages that will be sustainable into the future. “We are well positioned to do that in Australia with our access to the latest technologies and brightest minds. “SMEs will be an important part of that, driving innovation right along the supply chain while delivering sustainable outcomes for the future of our food manufacturing.” Since launching in 2020, Innovate to Grow has helped more than 600 early-stage R&D companies access the knowledge and tools required to progress their ideas. Mr Joshua Poke, from the Tasmanian Oyster Company, participated in the Innovate to Grow program in 2021. “Innovate to Grow really focused me on what I needed to concentrate on for growing our business in the next 12 months,” Mr Poke said. “It also provided me with lots of practical experiences of other (SMEs) that I learned from.” Innovate to Grow: Food Innovation is open to SMEs working in the following sub-sectors: · Beverage manufacturing · Food production · Traditional and complimentary proteins · Bio-manufacturing including precision fermentation · Sustainable […]

Kiwis prepared to consider genetic technologies in food production

New Zealanders are cautiously open to the use of genetic technologies in the country’s food production systems, according to new research. More than a third of respondents (34%) to the survey by Primary Purpose were supportive of genetic technologies in food production and 34% were unsure. Less than a third of respondents (31%) were outrightly opposed. The study reveals only 29% of New Zealanders indicate they want their food production to be entirely free of genetic technologies. However, the research shows that for many New Zealanders, genetic technologies is not an area that is well understood. Only 31% of respondents indicate they know ‘a lot’ or ‘a fair amount’ about the use of genetic technologies in food production. Meanwhile, the survey showed strong support for genetic technologies to help control pests and diseases that damage the natural environment (69%) and to help crops resist pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemicals and pesticides (68%). “The combination of support for specific uses and the minority of outright opposition indicates that the public is at least cautiously open to considering genetic technologies in food production and there is a clear need to support the public’s understanding of the area,” says Dr. Scott Champion, Founding Partner of Primary Purpose. “New Zealanders generally favour a cautious approach, with 45% advocating for gradual steps towards any adoption of genetic technologies. Men are generally more supportive, while Māori respondents tend to be less supportive.” Report Highlights Support (‘strongly support’ + ‘support’) were indicated for the following specific uses of genetic technologies: To help control pests and diseases that damage the natural environment (69% support) Help crops resist pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemicals and pesticides (68%) Help to lower farm costs and potentially reduce prices to consumers (66%) Improve drought resistance of crops, […]

Dr-Nina-Welti---building-a-picture-of-where-Australian-food-is-grown-and-how FI

Backing food product claims with evidence

Four of Australia’s peak research agencies have joined forces to develop a new isotopic data platform that will support the verification of Australian agricultural and food product claims and environmental credentials. Isotopes are unique chemical signatures or ‘fingerprints’ that can be used to tell us where our food comes from and how it was grown. Accurate isotopic data is used as evidence to verify a product’s credentials or provenance for better market access, including addressing demands for low-emission or deforestation-free commodities in Europe. The collaboration, co-invested with the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), brings together Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the National Measurement Institute (NMI) to connect disparate and siloed data into a single national collection. Speaking at the International Conference on Food Analysis in Melbourne, CSIRO’s trusted supply chains expert Dr Nina Welti said there’s a wealth of valuable public isotopic data held within each organisation that needs to be brought together to tackle Australia’s export challenges. “Isotopes not only tell us about food production, they also help us to better understand environmental factors such as soil nutrients and groundwater flows,” Dr Welti said. “Connecting these rich databases in a way that’s trusted and shareable is key to supporting research for the public good, as well as commercial outcomes for Australia’s agriculture, food and water systems. “It’s also about ensuring the long-term utility of data so that it can be used to build further trust in supply chains well into the future.” Another key driver is enabling equitable access across industry to verification tools. The collaboration, led by CSIRO through its Trusted Agrifood Exports Mission, is connecting datasets and insights across the supply chain to improve and grow Australia’s access to overseas markets. Agricultural and food export trade […]

MSU-led research team receives $946K grant to study alfalfa autotoxicity

A multi-institutional research team led by Michigan State University has received a $946,349 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to explore alfalfa autotoxicity. The award is within NIFA’s Alfalfa Seed and Forage Systems program. The project is led by Kim Cassida, an associate professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and MSU Extension forage specialist. Other researchers include: Sarah Lebeis, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences. Paige Baisley, a graduate student in Cassida’s lab. Virginia Moore, an assistant professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, alfalfa is the nation’s third most valuable field crop at roughly $8.7 billion per year. While alfalfa has many uses, it’s most often grown for animal agriculture forage due to its nutrient-rich profile. Like any other crop, alfalfa faces insect and diseases challenges, but current varieties are exceptionally hardy and able to withstand a variety of environmental pressures. Its most significant threat may be itself. Alfalfa exhibits autotoxicity, a phenomenon in which the plant inhibits germination and development of seedlings of its own species. The cause is believed to be chemical compounds released by the plants, but researchers are unsure which compounds are to blame. “We’ve known about this issue for a long time, but there haven’t been any concrete solutions generated,” said Cassida, whose work is also supported in part by MSU AgBioResearch. “Alfalfa is a tremendously valuable crop for Michigan, the U.S. and beyond, so finding answers to the problem of autotoxicity is extremely important. In my role as an MSU Extension specialist, I work directly with farmers, and I want to be able to give them more prescriptive recommendations.” Cassida said […]

Reforms needed as agricultural support reaches record highs

Total support to agriculture reached record levels of USD 851 billion per year during 2020-22 for the 54 countries covered by a new OECD report, as governments sought to shield consumers and producers from global crises and high inflation. Just under half of this government support was in the form of measures with the greatest potential for market distortions, such as border tariffs and subsidy payments based on output. The OECD’s Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2023 report shows this historically high level of support is nearly a 2.5-fold increase compared to two decades ago, though still behind the overall growth of production. Support remains highly concentrated in a few large producing economies, with China, India, the United States and the European Union representing 36%, 15%, 14% and 13% of total support provided, respectively. Individual producers received USD 630 billion per year in positive support over the 2020-22 period, up from USD 525 billion prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2019). More than half of it (USD 333 billion annually) was paid by consumers through border tariffs and other policies which push domestic prices above reference prices. The remainder (USD 297 billion annually) was paid by taxpayers through budgetary transfers, such as subsidies on the use of fertilisers and electricity, as well as payments based on output or land area. Most support reinforces existing production structures. The continued prominence of market price support in many countries, together with other forms of support that are potentially production and market distorting or commodity specific, discourage changes in production systems. These types of support also distort international markets, which remain a key mechanism to smoothen the impacts of shortfalls or bumper harvests. “Our annual flagship report Agricultural Policy and Monitoring Evaluation provides transparency on the nature and scale of government support provided to the agricultural sector, by measuring […]

Antipodes-Watermelon-Gin-with-glassware FI

An Australian-first set to become the drink of Summer

Summer has arrived early… Antipodes Gin Co has released Australia’s first Certified Organic, vegan-friendly and carbon neutral Watermelon Gin, just in time for Christmas. Nothing beats a cool slice of watermelon in summer. With that in mind, Antipodes Gin Co decided to give this quintessential summer melon a more adult edge by making a gin laden with its incredible flavour. Through months of experimentation and plenty of trial and error, the perfect blend of watermelon, juniper and lemon myrtle was finally developed. The resulting delicately nuanced spirit joins the tasting flight of their range of vegan friendly, certified organic gins and liqueurs. “We’ve been dreaming about summer here at Antipodes Gin Co and after years of wrestling with some huge watermelons for our kids and wondering if it is really a fruit or vegetable, we asked ourselves how we could give it a more adult edge. “We had been discussing watermelon for a while and thinking that it could help deliver the most perfect summer gin – and we weren’t wrong. We’ve created a juicily aromatic spirit with the delicate sweetness of watermelon perfectly balanced by the tartness of lemon myrtle. We cannot wait to share it with your summer,” he said. Antipodes Watermelon Gin works in a variety of cocktail expressions. It sits perfectly in a spritz, as a riff in an old fashioned or paired with some yuzu soda. It’s not precious – you can even go low-brow and splash it in with a bit of Solo and ice – just add sunshine, BBQs and the beach! Established in 2015, Antipodes Gin Co is Australia’s first certified organic, vegan friendly, carbon neutral spirits company. Their distillery in Canberra distills GMO, chemical and pesticide free spirits and liqueurs. With so many over-used slogans in the spirits category of ‘drink […]

Robotics Plus launches Prospr: multi-use autonomous vehicle for sustainable orchard and vineyard production

Autonomous modular vehicle platform for agriculture automates a variety of tree crop tasks, including intelligent spraying – to improve efficiency and alleviate labor challenges New Zealand-based agritech company Robotics Plus has launched Prospr, an autonomous, multi-use, hybrid vehicle designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard crop tasks more efficiently and sustainably while reducing reliance on labor. Prospr is now commercially available from Robotics Plus, a specialist in the design and build of innovative agricultural robotics. Prospr accommodates multiple swappable tools being developed, including newly released tower sprayers for grapes, apples, or tree crops. The right tool for the job is attached to the vehicle depending on the day’s work, and multiple Prosprs can collaborate in a fleet to get the job done. The autonomous vehicle uses a combination of perception systems to sense the environment, enabling data-driven insights. Robotics Plus will showcase Prospr for the first time at FIRA 2023 this week, a California-based event dedicated to autonomous agriculture and agricultural robotics solutions. Steve Saunders, Co-founder and Chief Executive at Robotics Plus says the agriculture industry faces unprecedented challenges as this generation works to produce more food sustainably while reducing emissions and supplying at a lower cost. “Prospr is a robust autonomous vehicle, with all-day running, that adapts to the jobs growers need to do while reducing emissions, inputs and reliance on increasingly hard-to-find machine operators. We’ve focussed on utilisation and flexibility with a unique modular architecture, allowing different tools for various crop types and applications year-round to maximise return on investment. “It’s great to be back at FIRA to launch Prospr, with the first vehicles rolling out to customers this month. It’s a fantastic milestone for the passionate and dedicated Robotics Plus team.” Dr. Alistair Scarfe, Co-founder and Chief Engineering Officer at Robotics Plus, says, “We’ve […]

EDITION Hotels partners with Josh Niland

EDITION Hotels has partnered with one of the leading sustainable chefs in the world, acclaimed Australian restaurateur and multi-award-winning chef and author Josh Niland, to helm the signature restaurant at The Singapore EDITION. The ethically sourced seafood concept will be Niland’s first restaurant outside of Australia, an elegant home for what a sustainable, modern-age, seafood-focused steakhouse is today, with the edition of sensational meat and vegetable dishes. Having burst onto the food scene in 2016 with his revolutionary and now wildly popular approach to the way we cook, transport, age and store fish, Chef Niland has worked at some of Sydney’s greatest restaurants as well as at the UK’s legendary three Michelin starred The Fat Duck, before opening Saint Peter, his first restaurant in Sydney with his wife and business partner Julie Niland in 2016. The Fish Butchery, a retail market concept selling sustainable fish species, was later introduced in 2018. Charcoal Fish, a beachside takeaway concept offering restaurant-quality fast food, and a second Fish Butchery both followed in 2019. Earlier this year, the couple opened a second restaurant, Petermen, on Sydney’s Northern Shores. Niland is the author of award-winning ‘The Whole Fish Cookbook’ and ‘Take One Fish,’ which also received worldwide acclaim. He has just released his third book, ‘Fish Butchery,’ in August 2023. With nods to stylish Old-World elegance and tradition, The Singapore EDITION’s signature restaurant will reflect Chef Niland’s globally recognised passion for seafood and focus on creating a circular economy within the restaurant and lobby bar to mitigate waste while heightening the guest experience. In his restless pursuit of excellence, his unique creations will feature the finest ingredients from world-class producers, growers and artisanal suppliers to present a menu of fish cut to order, including rib on the bone, crown roasts and cutlets. Chef Niland’s menu […]

food-system-causing-earth-indigestion-NZF

The global food system: we are what we eat

This glimpse of the future was crafted by Paul de Gannes To capture nature more accurately, 19th-century French painter Claude Monet often painted on extremely large canvases, many metres in length. If you look at his work up close, the brushstrokes are blurred and hazy, but step back from the canvas and the water lilies come to life, capturing the imagination. When it comes to our global food system, it’s time to think like Monet! Rather than focusing on individual elements, we must stand back to truly appreciate a broader, more inclusive perspective. This takes us beyond the standard snapshot delivered by the appetising and mouth-watering close-ups of food on Instagram, to a deeper understanding of how our food system plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy planet. According to an EAT-Lancet Commission report co-authored by Professor Walter Willet from Harvard Medical School, food is the single strongest lever to optimise human health and environmental sustainability on earth, and will be a defining issue of the 21st century. However, it seems that many don’t yet see it that way. Consumer adoption of circular economy practices hinges on convenience, availability and understanding of sustainable options offered by companies. This is in line with behavioural science studies that look into how easy, or difficult it is to teach an old dog new tricks. How will manufacturers measure up? How can manufacturers adopt wide-scale, sustainable practices that deliver benefits today – not merely cost savings – to the food supply chain, which will lead to further investment and truly deliver long-lasting value in this area? Approaching food production as a holistic challenge is also an opportunity. The production system in its entirety needs to be taken into account when trying to determine whether a product is environmentally acceptable or not. This includes […]

«‹ 4 5 6 7 ›»

News Ticker

News